Does God Love Dogs?

Some Jewish insights on animals.

As a boy growing up in the foothills of Berkeley, my parents encouraged me to have pets. From guinea pigs to parakeets to even a pet chicken named Fwedwika, my home was full of little critters throughout most of my childhood. By encouraging me to be a caretaker for my pets, my parents taught me the meaning of responsibility, consistency and perhaps even love. So I've often wondered if the Bible supports animal activism and what exactly God would say if I posed the question, "Do You love dogs?"

Dogs are the only animals in the Torah that receive a reward for their actions. When the Jewish slaves flee Egypt, it states "not one dog barked” (Exodus 11:7). As a reward for that, God said, "…and flesh torn in the field you shall not eat; you shall throw it to the dog[s]" (Exodus 22:30; Mechilta). However, God’s affection for animals doesn't end with affable companions such as dogs. This affection even extends to insects. King David had to learn this lesson when he questioned the purpose of such "vile creatures" as spiders. Subsequently God created an event whereupon a spider’s web saved his life, thereby impressing upon Judaism's mightiest king that every creature has purpose (Midrash Alpha Beta Acheres d'Ben Sira 9).

The Talmud teaches that the reason the Almighty created animals before humans on the sixth day of creation was to teach humans humility so much so that "even a lowly gnat" may be more deserving of life (Sanhedrin 38a).

So one may infer from here that God does indeed love dogs…and all the rest of His creatures too. But does this manifest itself into practical animal activism or does it remain a more generalized and undefined value in Judaism?

Jewish law is replete with requirements for the caring of animals. Examples include laws prohibiting inflicting pain on animals (Kesef Mishneh, Hilkhot Rotzeah 13:9), requiring one to feed animals in a loving manner (Igg'rot Moshe, Even haEzer 4:92), and protecting animals from being overworked (Hoshen Mishpat 307:13). We see from these and more, the extensive lengths to which the Torah goes in order to ensure the proper care of animals. Even when one must slaughter an animal to feed ones family, there are numerous Jewish laws set in place to guarantee that the animal's death is quick and painless (Guide of the Perplexed III:48). One insight we can glean from the Torah about why God may have made animals, is that they were created to express the "glory of the Creator" (Pirkei Avos 6:11). The sheer diversity and beauty of animals leads one to appreciate the Creator even more, thereby leading one to proclaim, "How great is Your work, O Lord" (Psalm 92:5).

One might also say that the Creator has placed us, the descendants of Adam and Eve, in His beautiful garden to be the "caretaker" of "God's garden" and all the animals therein (Genesis 2:19-20).

Mankind is created last in the days of creation because humans are the pinnacle of creation; we are the beings created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). When we use our free will responsibly, acting with compassion and sensitivity, we become like God, as it says, "Just as He is compassionate, so should you be compassionate. Just as He is righteous, so should you be righteous" (Midrash Sifre Deuteronomy 49). When we develop ourselves to be spiritually refined, we fully realize the title of "caretakers of the world."

We are the caretakers of God’s beautiful world and all the animals in it.

Imagine what message it sends a child when Daddy and Mommy teach that God wants all our animals to be fed before we feed ourselves (Talmud, Brachot 40a). Imagine what message it sends our child when Daddy and Mommy teach that God watches us to see if we are being compassionate to the animals in our midst (Talmud, Bava Metzia 85a.). And imagine what message we bequeath to our children when we say that to become truly righteous and spiritually fulfilled, we must cultivate a sensitivity towards animals, as it says "A righteous person knows the needs of the animal" (Proverbs 12:10)!

Perhaps this is why God specifically made Noah build an ark to save all the animals during the Flood. After all, God could have easily made a miracle where the animals were saved without Noah needing to slave away for 40 days and nights meticulously tending to the care of each animal in the ark and even sharing his own table with them (Malbim, Genesis 6:21). One could answer that this was precisely to highlight that the concept of being the "caretakers of the Garden" didn't end with Adam and Eve but is an essential responsibility of mankind for all time. Additionally, one can also say that the way we treat animals is a reflection of the way we treat people. In the Bible, we observe the repeating story of how a loving shepherd is chosen by God to lead the spiritual flock of the Jewish people after previously demonstrating his dedication to a flock of sheep (Midrash, Shemot Rabah 2:2). A barometer for one's sensitivity towards other people can be seen in how we treat the animals in our midst. This emphasis on caring for animals can be a way to further those feelings of sensitivity that may eventually lead to goodwill for all mankind.

There is a final fascinating perspective that the Torah is teaching us. Animals can serve as our teachers. There are God-given qualities inherent in the instinctual habits and mannerisms of the animals around us that can actually serve to inspire humans to achieve greater heights of spiritual fulfillment. For example, the very first law in the Code of Jewish Laws is, "Rabbi Yehuda ben Taima said, 'Be as bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven'" (Avos 5:20). Poignantly, this is placed as the first law in a book of Jewish legalities.This idea is most evident in the statement of Rabbi Yochanan, "If the Torah had not been given we could have learnt modesty from the cat, honesty from the ant, chastity from the dove, and good manners from the rooster." (Talmud, Eiruvin 100b). Perhaps we can learn from a dog the power of devotion, loyalty or even having a positive attitude.

I will conclude with a teaching about man's best friend, the dog. The notable sixteenth century Jewish leader, the Maharsha, says that a dog is a creature of love. Hence, the Hebrew name for a dog is "kelev" which is etymologically derived from the words "kulo lev" or "all heart" (Rabbi Shmuel Eidels, Chidushei Aggadot, Sanhedrin 97a). Now remember that Adam and Eve were instructed by God to give all the animals of the world their Hebrew names (Genesis 2:19-20). When they made this personal connection with the beasts of the world, the names they chose were prophetically accurate so as to encapsulate the essence of each animal into a name that truly revealed its soul. (Bereishit Rabbah 17:4). Thus, one may extrapolate from this that the Hebrew name for a dog was precisely chosen to be indicative of the loving soul of this marvelous creature.

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About the Author

A member of the Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbi Welton graduated from the Machon Ariel Rabbinical Institute in 2005 and from Bellevue University in 2008 with an M.A. in Education. Having served Jewish communities in San Francisco, Sydney and Montreal, he currently resides in New York and specializes working with youth and young adults.

Visitor Comments: 66

(50)
Sarah,
October 20, 2014 12:41 PM

do animals go to heaven ?

the article doesn't address whether animals go to heaven. Still, i'm very glad for what it says about G-d's love for animals. i lost my dog some years ago and miss him terribly. i'm looking forward to the day when we will be reunited in heaven because i believe that's where he is now, n where i'm going. Some people have had experiences of visiting heaven and seeing their pets there.. the thot that our pets go to heaven is a comfort for pet-lovers like me.

(49)
sher and pit bull petey,
October 20, 2014 12:20 AM

G-d's gift of the dog!

We lost 2 elderly dogs within 4 months to cancer. One expected could happen when we rescued her, the other was a shock and came so fast as a tooth abcess one night that wasn't, it was mast cell cancer that matasticize throughout the body so fast. Surgery would be extensive into the jaw...how could we do that to our beloved animal familer. I would love to know why G-d made there lives so short. We then rescued our 1st pit bull. After several dogs throughout my life these past 6yrs have been amazing..so smart, loving,gentle,rewarding,loyal,friendly....we will only adopt pit bulls from now on...thank you G-d for pit bulls. It is YOU...NOT the dog...

(48)
Michael,
September 7, 2014 8:29 AM

Rabbi Levi, Bless your heart.

I happened to see this older article by chance. I read AISH at least 5 times a week and how I missed this wonderful article is amazing.,My love for canines has always been the norm for me since childhood.Funny thing was as I was reading this article my 3 year ild boardercollie got on the bed and started to nudge and lick my leg. It was like she want knew I was reading about the love of dogs. Thank you AlmightyFather !I still mourn the dogs we had to put down in my life time. Last December, our Ira of 3 years old got a blood disorder and there was no hope. The family is still mourning his lost and we should of held a shiva.The pain and depression is at times unbearable. We lst 3 dogs in 3 years and it really hurt.Only an animal lover can relateto the pain. We have urns of their remains and they will be buried with us. Again, my love and prayers for AISH being what it is, G-d' gift to all of us readers., May the Almighty bless all the staff at AISH, Israel and all Jews of Zion.

(47)
A on,
August 31, 2014 3:49 PM

Animals are special but...

Cats can also be very special loving animals.
I owned an extremely living cat for several years. However I think people need to not place too much emphasis on their pets. G d makes it clear that while
animals are to be respected they are not people with
Peoples ' souls. We can't really connect with pets
on the same level as people.when people say they love their pets more than people it is sad because it's not supposed to be that way . G d makes it clear that people should be the priority in our lives and we should work to cultivate people to people relationships - not with pets!!

(46)
Talia,
July 30, 2014 3:43 PM

Beautiful!

Thank you for writing such a beautiful piece. The saying goes that humans domesticated dogs and in the process made them more human. I would say its the reverse--dogs, with their unconditional love, lack of resentment, and sheer joie de vivre, have made people more human.

I'd love to read a further analysis of why G-d gave dogs such short lifespans. They're such marvelous companions, yet we get to enjoy their company for no more than 15 years, for the most part.

(43)
Kelly Rebekah ben Maimon,
April 6, 2014 11:40 PM

Thought provoking commentary

Thank you for sharing this article Rabbi. Have always had dogs in my life. Max (brindle staffordshire bull terrier) has been with us for 12 years and a bundle of joy! He has a permanent smile on his face , and particularly enjoys Shabbat evenings at the moment candles are lit. It is almost as if he senses the occasion.

(42)
Ruth Housman,
April 6, 2014 3:04 PM

DOG is GOD read backwards/ Man's BEST FRIEND

Dogs, give unconditional LOVE.

I can and have made, on line, many times, a cogent argument that states, quite clearly, that all Creation is imbued with the Image, the Stamp of the CREATOR, and that in fact, the very names of the animals, and their habits, their very lives, are deeply metaphoric of our lives, in every possible way. I used the word BEAR recently to explicate this, on line, on my Facebook Page, and I am writing a language-based story that is deeply about the "Nature" of things. So if anyone is so impelled to take a look for themselves, this page, entirely about the alchemy of language, crossing Babel, Gate in Sanskrit, is extant. But it's not necessary to look at my page. Examine for yourself the myriad language and metaphoric connectivity that binds them, to Us. In deep, compassionate, sensate ways, THEY ARE US.

(41)
Theunis,
March 18, 2014 10:02 AM

Love dogs an d all.

It is said that all that is, is holy.Why would anyone create something without a purpose is senseless.

(40)
Anonymous,
January 24, 2014 11:25 AM

I work with the rabbi, and he thought you raised a great question and one that every person should contemplate in choosing his/her lifestyle. There are, in fact, many observant rabbis who do endorse vegetarianism for that very reason (the prohibition of "tzaar baalei chayim"-- causing pain to animals). Many base their practices of eating meat on the written Torah's allowance of the consumption of animals for personal pleasure, while many others hold that this allowance was not given to the Jews as an ideal eating habit, rather as a necessity for survival in the desert which no longer calls for meat consumption today. Thank you for your wonderful insights and kol hakavod for exercising your love for all of G-d's creatures in such a meaningful way.

(39)
Sarah Rivka :),
January 10, 2014 8:24 PM

Another example of compassion for animals being used as a measure

Eliezer chose Rivka to be Yitzchak's wife because she fulfilled the sign that he asked Hashem to send: That she would not only give him water but also water his camels.

(38)
Karl,
January 9, 2014 7:01 PM

My Dog

My dogs pick me up, when I'm down, they make me exercise when I want to be fat and lazy. They protect me and everybody in my household from unwanted guest, seen and unseen. They sense evil in people who portray false friendships and let me know it. They show affection and loyalty without question, when I return from work. They do so much more for us, than we do for them. They are family.

Churlie,
January 12, 2014 7:57 PM

Why fat?

We all understand the tendency to be lazy. But why do you want to be fat?

(37)
Marvin owner of whisky G,
January 9, 2014 2:47 AM

the real status

I love my dog (and his feelings to me are reciprocal).

Yet what Judaism's real take on dogs?Who are dogs? Historically:

*a protector of Cain? - maybe*one of two animals to have banned relations on the teva?*not barking when the last night in Egypt........dogs like voluntary slaves, traded their "freedom" and dependency on G-d for dependency on a human master. For this they loose points and are said to have a disconnect from G-d. (This said, I hope that my dog will be at my "non"feet encouraging me on as I sit in the great bais medresh in the next world). That their appreciation of their human masters knows no bounds is a lesson to us in hakoress hatov that we need to emulate for our master. Dog spelled backward is ......yes god. It is not that we view them as a G-d, but rather that they view and treat us (the providers of their physical, mental and emotional needs) as a G-d. How can you not love a creature who in exchange for a little food water and walks has unending appreciation.

There is no question that dogs are great friends, add to our lives and make us feel great (often thereby allowing us to forge on and accomplish greater things as a result of the good feelings provided), yet I would appreciate further input from others as to Orthodox Judaism's real perspective on dogs. I would appreciate others

Anonymous,
January 24, 2014 11:08 AM

I work with the rabbi, and he wanted to share that he loves your idea about dogs teaching us a lesson of hakaras hatov. May your dog be blessed with many more happy years!

(36)
eve beili,
January 8, 2014 7:32 PM

how do you justify factory farming

I am sure that God would love dogs and any creature he createdI don't understand how we as Jews have separated our compassion and caring for the earth with the way we raise our food and clothing. If indeed God has given us the earth and creatures to care for and if indeed we have strict rules about how we treat these creatures how are we allowed to eat and wear animals that have been enslaved and tortured?

(35)
RR,
January 8, 2014 5:08 PM

Does g-d love pigs?

how is g-d's love for the pig reconciled with the treatment the pig gets in the Torah. Or better question why is the love for pigs manifested in such an interesting and singled out manner.

(34)
Chaya,
January 8, 2014 4:11 PM

Fear of dogs imbedded in racial memory of Ashkenazim

I heard someone once say that Jews (particulary those from Europe) tend to have a fear of canines due to racial memories of the times when the goyim set their dogs on us (Nazis Yemach shmom loved their dogs and set them on Jews and even now in Europe I have heard stories from British Jews (particulary in Gateshead) where the non-Jewish Brits still set their dogs on Jews.). I have always been afraid of dogs... in my childhood nightmares the forbidding dark did not contain monsters but dogs. I think it was a fear I was born with and I know other Jews that share the same fear. Even now I have the posuk (uvechol bnei yisroel lo...) in the forefront of my memory as I live in a dog loving suburb so I say it often. Personally I think dogs don't smell nice and mychildhood fear still lingers... along with the horror stories of dogs turning on owners. Also, I see how families can be drawn into depression whne their dogs die... and human's lifespan is about 6 times as much as dogs.Has anyone encountered a similar phenomenon?

(33)
Anonymous,
January 8, 2014 3:51 PM

Thank You!

Thank you, Tova, for your work with the cats! As I type this, our three rescued dogs nap at my feet and our two shelter cats are curled up nearby. All are spayed or neutered. This is an uphill battle, I'm afraid, but one little soul at a time ~

(32)
Raphael,
January 8, 2014 12:46 PM

Cats

Does anyone know where cats are mentioned in Tanach?

(31)
Jones,
January 7, 2014 6:23 PM

dogs in Jewish writings

I liked the message in this article, but at the same time, I once read a collection of references to dogs in Jewish literature (probably culled from the Bar Ilan CD) and it seems that about 95% of the references to dogs were negative.

dvora,
January 7, 2014 8:23 PM

Doubt that any reference to dogs was negative

Dogs don't do evil like humans ,who have that capacity. I would read the article again.Dogs can be trusted unless you abuse them.

(30)
Lisa,
January 7, 2014 4:27 PM

I love this article

I just want to say that I love this article. Thank you Rabbi Levi!!

(29)
PETER,
January 7, 2014 2:30 PM

Love our dogs

Yes I love my dogs some time than people as their love is so unconditional and true to us their owners we have three small dogs Jack Russells who are a hand full but love us so much and Yorkie so sweet like a child .Shalom

(28)
Debra,
January 7, 2014 1:21 PM

As I was reading my daily e-mail from Aish this morning, the link to this article was at the bottom of the page. It is so timely as we had to put our precious dog of 14 years down yesterday to end his suffering. I wept all day & again now. Sydney was a gift from God to teach me unconditional love from a male. He far exceeded that in teaching me so many things that ultimately improved my character. He brought me comfort when I was sad, companionship when I was lonely & much joy. He was a Therapy Dog for several years & it was amazing to see the countless & amazing things that happened in the lives of the people he touched. I learned before I got him how to train him & how to care for him. I am so thankful for that discipline as it made a big difference in how our lives together turned out. I have now learned the meaning of the word dog- "all love". My Sydney was truly that. I miss him so...thank you for your timely article.

Anonymous,
January 7, 2014 8:24 PM

so sad for your loss

My sympathy to you for the loss of your best friend. It is truly tragic. My sympathy once again, D vora

Debra Nicholson,
January 8, 2014 2:22 PM

Thank you. My tears of sadness were mixed with joy as I read your post because you called me Dvora...it's the first time I have been called by my Hebrew name. Again thank you for your expression of sympathy & for touching my soul.

(27)
Bar Mitzvah Man,
January 7, 2014 2:50 AM

Great Article

Rabbi Levi,You are a 10 out of 10!-Yehuda

(26)
Sarah,
January 7, 2014 12:04 AM

kilev

Growing up on a farm we always had dogs and I absolutely loved each and every one of them. Might I add that if you change the nekudot on the word kelev, it can become kilev--like the heart--dogs have the hearts of their owners and the owners have the hearts of their dogs. so thank you for this article--how refreshing--when I see my local neighbors terrified of the dogs in the area, i try to explain how important they are and while we can't be afraid of them, we have to show respect and be careful on how we treat t hem and approach them. I wish I had a dog now--a beagle--my favorite

(25)
Ruth Dreyer,
January 6, 2014 9:09 PM

Good article

Rabbi Levi, it's great to see you on Aish! Shalom from Pretoria and sometimes Berkeley.

(24)
lizzie,
January 6, 2014 8:25 PM

fur leather wool angora

I encourage all of us to take a look at what we are wearing and where it comes from, in respect to fashion and clothing. Many animals being tortured for fashionable clothing it breaks my heart. I am a vegetarian and if you have a minute go over to peta.org and see all those videos of how most animal skin is taken with animals being skinned alive. Thank you for this story it immensely touched my heart. Shalom

(23)
Anonymous,
January 6, 2014 7:09 PM

the more I deal with humans, the better I love animals

(22)
Miriam,
January 6, 2014 4:12 PM

Perhaps you should rethink the paragraph

about the animals being created before man. I wouldn't say the Talmud is saying how you put it but rather that man has the capacity to become lower than an animal, like the Nazis, for example. A very different message.Though I agree that G- d loves animals. After all, He made them!

(21)
Sarah,
January 6, 2014 12:25 PM

Thank you

Thank you for this wonderful piece--I'm sharing it with all my fellow dog-lovers!

(20)
Stephen,
January 6, 2014 8:06 AM

Letters of name

Even English language unwittingly (or maybe not) has name of dog read backwards = God. I strive to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

George,
January 6, 2014 5:58 PM

terrible

Your making a similarity by spelling the word backwards shows such a gigantic disrespect of our Creator, blessed be His Name, that I am in a shock.. I never heard anything so terrible in my entire life. I feel sick.

Anonymous,
January 7, 2014 8:28 PM

please George

oh please George, gimme a break. Dogs are sacred- like children.

(19)
Joan,
January 6, 2014 2:22 AM

God did create dogs.Where would I be with out mine.?

Faithful,loving,devoted and funny. What more could I ask for?

(18)
Anonymous,
January 5, 2014 11:13 PM

HUNTING SHOULD BE BANNED INTERNATIONALLY

I don't understand how governments allow hunting and poaching but then I guess their greed for money is more than their care for animals.
I watched a documentary on tv about lions being bred and hunted on private farms here in South Africa and when they die their bones are sold to the Chinese/Asian market. The documentary it stated that the biggest and most influential hunting clubs have leaders from so called "
Upper-class" like presidents, kings, millioniars etc.
Its sad that man can buy vast amounts of land just to breed animals to torture or hunt.
The real dumb ass and dirty swine is a man that ill treats animals or one that hates them.
I think celebrities like musicians, actors and beauty queens should use their fame to influence people to care for if not love animals, and call for the ban on hunting, and the closure of private farms that breeds animals for hunting.
Maybe the Mosquito is GOD's way of trying to teach us a lesson that hunting or ill-treating animals is wrong!
I wish GOD would punish people that are cruel to animals in a way that others can see and fear.

jason,
January 16, 2014 3:15 PM

To anti-hunter

While I certainly understand your response when it comes to sport hunting animals such as lions or bears as I do also agree that there is no place on earth where this should take place.

It does sound like the rest of your response towards hunting isn't very well thought out, emotional, and perhaps juvenile. I take it you are vegetarian? If not, how can you condone an animal such as an adult male deer which there are specific hunting seasons for, which spends much of its life out in the wild eating organic berries and nuts, then to be harvested, violently perhaps, but will provide enough food to stock somebody's freezer for much of a winter. I also know of many people and organization who have excess to donate the rest of the meat to homeless shelters and organizations. Is this so much more cruel as you state than cows and chickens that are forced to live in close quarters in filth, horrible inhumane conditions, maltreated just for a profit which is where most of our meat comes from the supermarket?

There are plenty of people who depend on hunting for food who live in the hinterland of the US. I would not dare tell them the government should not allow them to hunt. Hunting also plays a huge part in conservation of land. You may have been in populated areas where you've seen the number of deer which pose a serious risk to drivers. Hunting does provide curbing of over population in many areas. We as humans have moved in on the animals habitat, maybe the government should have us limit having only a few children, this way we don't continue to encroach on their land? Invasive Wild boar are reaking havoc to farmers in the Southeast, hunting and trapping is the only way to save their land from the invasive wild boar. Maybe we should let the swine overrun their farm land? I think your hearts in the right place, but perhaps you need to think of the ramifications of having the government limit something such as hunting and the affect it may have on us all.

(17)
Rachel,
January 5, 2014 10:51 PM

Dogs' Sixth Sense

Although I am not up to the responsibility of owning a dog, I get a lot of satisfaction from making occasional donations to Guide Dogs for the Blind. How dogs help us by guiding blind people, helping epileptics & sensing when they're going to have a seizure, and cheering up so many lonely people, especially the elderly, through therapy visits, just amazes me! Thank you for such a sensitively written article!

(16)
martin,
January 5, 2014 10:23 PM

blessing

We have 3 small Poodles..They are so loving and intelligent.they are like a blessing in our old age.

(15)
mike,
January 5, 2014 10:17 PM

do dogs have a soul?

what is the "classic "answer to the question of animals having souls? if not, what would they each animal's life-force?

Thank you for a thoughtful article. What I would like to know is where we draw the line when it comes to pets? Pets don't just show up at our door steps. This is a well controlled industry, for the most part: 43 billion dollar in the US, alone. As of now, one can take small pets on-board, airplanes. Several airlines allow it. Most hotel chains allow pets to sleep in hotels. I know for a fact that a lot of pet owners allow their cats (some even small dogs) to sleep at the foot of their bed with them. Now, how comforting is that next time you stay at one of these hotels. Do hotels change the bed covers when they change the sheets? Surely they don't change the chairs and the sofa and the carpets? Anyone allergic to pets? Depending on which stats you wish to believe, the stats are high. And, if you have asthma, then you have serious problems. You cannot get rid of dander by vacuuming. A friend called me the other day and shared with me an article he was reading on a United flight. It was about new home owners who demand that architects build houses that are pet friendly. This particular article featured a married couple, no children, who owned 5 dogs. They had to have an area where they could bathe their pets, where their pets have a recreational area, etc. Nobody disagrees with the premise that animals should be treated with respect. That is a given. I think that all creation should be treated with respect. But, pets have become consumer products. Pets are now like jeans or shirts or shoes or any other commodity. We create the product and then we sell it. That, to me anyway, is not respecting the animal. It is treating it as a thing.

Dvirah,
January 6, 2014 5:20 PM

Not Always

My family has always had dogs and cats and not once were they purchased - each one came in a unique way, from just showing up on the doorstep to being rescued squashed from under a car. While you do have a point, please try not to be so dogmatic. (A pun here, by the way!)

(12)
Matt_Writes,
January 5, 2014 6:44 PM

Kudos!

I loved it! I'm a friend of your brother's by the way. :)

(11)
Enid,
January 5, 2014 5:02 PM

Only our pets can give us unconditional love.

Animals are the only innocents on earth. That's one reason that we hate to see them suffer.

(10)
Barbara Estes,
January 5, 2014 4:51 PM

For the Love of Dogs

I so totally loved this article. I always believed that GOD loved animals, As it says in the Bible,God didn't want the lamb to be slayed.HE saved the lamb;he had Noah build an ark and had the animals go in two by two;he created the Gnat before HE created man.We have to educate people to respect all animals and to learn to love them as they love themselves. Animals have feelings,they are alive,they hurt emotionally and physically;they get depressed,they feel unhappy,sad,etc.People who torture animals should be tortured themselves.

Frances MDuff,
January 5, 2014 8:35 PM

WHEN YOU SPELL DOG BACKWARDS YOU GET GOD

Having many dogs in my life I find them much nicer than people.I feel a dog is special and close to G-d because they love unconditionally. Dogs are not bad but there are many baddog owners. My best friends are dogs.

(9)
Malka,
January 5, 2014 4:47 PM

Considering the Millions of Dogs and Cats Euthanized Annually ...

Does this seem like love?

"It is a violation of Jewish law to neuter a pet. The Torah prohibits castrating males of any species (Lev. 22:24). Although this law does not apply to neutering female pets, neutering of females is prohibited by general laws against tza'ar ba'alei chayim (causing suffering to animals)." Judaism 101

Tova Saul,
January 6, 2014 5:57 AM

Good Point. However........

There are some rabbis who specify how spay/neuter can be done halachically. For details, anyone can call me in Jerusalem (where I trapped, neutered and released 67 cats in and near the Jewish Quarter in the Old City in 2013) at 02 628 3521.You are right. Many rabbis, like many people in general, are not aware of the enormous number of dogs and cats that flood all animal shelters due to people not spaying, and they don't realize that most of them will be euthanized for lack of space and funding. If every school curriculum included bringing kids to these shelters at bar mitzva age and explained the facts to them, we would see a revolution vis a vis spaying. As it stands now, most people never heard the word "spay", or they feel it is "against nature" and therefore wrong. Open heart surgery and flying in an airplane are "against nature, too.

(8)
Sa,
January 5, 2014 4:23 PM

Dogs are a gift

What a beautiful article! We have 2 rescue dogs and indeed they are "all heart". I've often felt that dogs were a gift from G-d. Everyone should have such loyalty and love. They teach us how to be in the moment and how to be joyful and appreciate life.

(7)
Adina keschner,
January 5, 2014 4:21 PM

God loves doges

After reading this wonderfull article I was somewhat confused on how it is that Soooo many religious Jews are afraid of and dislike dogs,and even more so cats.My husband is a vet and I attended Vetschool as well and we take care of animals domesticated or wildlife all the time at any time of the day and therefore are exposed frequently to people who just don't get it.It is our(the humans)responsibility to take care of the animals because they are created by God just like we are.They should not be abused under no surcumstances,even if they are bred for consumption.We,Gods chosen,have the responsibility to stand up against all the abuse in the meat market going on and we should all educate ourselves about it.There is plenty of information to be gotten on about this.We should all make the time to get involved and not support all the cruelty against animals by being very carefull where and what meat and poultry we buy for consumption.I know I am going beyond the original dog idea but other animals are just as important,if not more so because of their numbers and because of their suffering.I hope my writing will at least touch one persons heart.It is time we,the Jewish people become the role models for the other nations in the way we treat animals meant for consumption.Having suppervision on how the animal is killed should not be enough to make the meat kosher!Thir should be a serious suppervision on the conditions under which these animals were raised and only if these conditions are humane should the animal be allowed to be slaugtered according to Jewish law.We owe it to God and to the Jewish people.

(6)
Diane,
January 5, 2014 4:21 PM

I love the message in this article

We have a dog, and was told by trainers that we should eat first, so I am so glad that I have been following Hashem's will whenI feed my dog before myself. It is known that the worst serial killers who killed humans with their own hands, began by killing animals with their own hands. My husband grew up on a farm where his duty was to take care of and feed the animals before eating his own breakfast. Although I had lived in Israel and knew that kelev meant dog, I had no idea the origin. I love it. Also, in English, dog is g-d spelled backwards. Not that one would call a dog, that, but shows that a dog is close to G-d's heart as to ours. Thank you for this article. I will share it with other dog loving friends. Jewish and not. B"H

jason,
January 10, 2014 4:33 AM

humans eating before dog..

The reason the trainer recommended that you eat before feeding dogs is to demonstrate and show leadership as the alpha wolf eats first in the wild. Just one of the tricks trainers use to establish alpha leadership in a household which results in a more emotionally stable and well behaved dog.

Positive based dog trainers find this not as useful as positive dog treat training but still may be necessay as with very dominant dogs or they may run the house.

(5)
Tovye,
January 5, 2014 4:18 PM

Dogs have Neshamas

And I can prove it with Torah. In the Ark, 3 species were said to sin: humans, dogs, and crows/ravens. You can't sin if you don't have a Neshama.

Not that they have a human Neshama, but there is something there. And every dog owner can confirm what I am saying.

(4)
Tova Saul,
January 5, 2014 4:07 PM

Refreshing to see a pro-animal article....

.....in a religious website. Thank you to the writer and to Aish.

(3)
Anonymous,
January 5, 2014 3:26 PM

Fwedwika?

How cute is that! Lol.
My animals have taught me the meaning of innocence and trust in G-d.

(2)
Poppy,
January 5, 2014 10:56 AM

Hitler had a dog named Blondie whom he loved. That did not stop him from killing 6 million Jews love for animals translate to love of people? I don't think so..

Ben,
January 5, 2014 4:00 PM

Hitler killed his dog

Hitler killed his dog before killing himself- a very trivial fact in the big picture. But the last ounce of pain he inflicted while living was on a dog.

Tova Saul,
January 5, 2014 4:04 PM

There are exceptions to every rule.....

If what you write is really true (and I never heard of it), there are exceptions to every rule. But generally, people who are kind to animals also tend to be kind to people.

Anonymous,
January 6, 2014 5:25 PM

Atitude

Hitler did not recognise Jews as "people". In fact, it is stricking that those who would oppress others must deny their victims' humanity. There are repeated references to Jews as "sub-human" - and I think in Hitler's mind, sub-animal also.

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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